Julio Ruiz played on the first Valley Center High boys soccer team to qualify for the San Diego Section playoffs in 2003. It would take nine years for the Jaguars to return with help again from Ruiz.

By then, the 2004 graduate was well into an 11-year stint developing players as the JV coach. That led to him taking over the reins of a resurgent varsity last season.

Now the Jaguars figure to compete in their third straight postseason this year while stepping up to Division II at the same time.

To help implement the Valley Center way, all four coaches in the program are Jaguars alums as well.

“All my coaches have a deep-rooted love for the school and the program, for the kids and the atmosphere,” said Ruiz, who started his coaching career as a varsity assistant for a year. “They’ve all seen the program throughout the years. They truly have passion for it, the kids see how much we’re passionate about it, and they work a little harder.”

The Jaguars (10-3-3, 3-2-1) got off to a strong start this season by compiling a 7-1-2 record heading into Valley League play with a cadre of standouts from three different grade levels.

A striker by position, Simon Rizo has also stepped into the role of senior mainstay in his second varsity season.

“I bring to the team my practice skills and my ability to put the ball in the net,” said Rizo, who has seven goals and three assists. “Also, I want to be a team leader to help get these guys motivated by example.”

The Jaguars have also received an offensive boost from junior forward Jose Saldana, who has 13 goals.

Saldana, long a soccer player, also took up cross country and distance running on the track team upon entering high school.

“I like all three of them equally,” said Saldana, who scored 20 goals for the JV last season. “When I’m on the soccer field, I run multiple yards, so doing the others helps me with my conditioning for soccer. We all perform to our highest level.”

Serving as one of the team captains while just a sophomore midfielder is Kyler Richie, who was also an impact player as a freshman.

While most of the Jaguars are products of the Valley Center Hurricanes youth soccer club, Richie has had experience on U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams. Still, he finds a special appeal in high school soccer.

“Other teams are just a team, but we are a unit, a family,” said Richie, who has eight goals. “We don’t give up on each other. That’s what I like most about it. We keep bonding.”

Seniors Luis Gonzalez and Jose Pamatz also act as team captains.

The Jaguars have five starters back from last season, and from this season’s lineup, only three will graduate this year.

In each of the last two postseasons, Valley Center lost to the eventual champion in the Division III quarterfinals — first Mission Hills and then Del Norte.

A standout victory this season came against Del Norte as the Jaguars prevailed 4-3 with the help of two late goals by reserve Emanuel Luna, including the game-winner.

Helping Ruiz with coaching the varsity have been his older brother, Giovanni, who also happened to be in the same graduating class, and Juan Gonzales, part of the 2012 playoff team. Eddie Alba directs the JV, and Johnny Esquivel guides the freshman squad.

“We do definitely tell players (about the past),” Ruiz said. “We’re jealous in a good way. We wish we had this much depth in our team the way that they have it. Also, we say to enjoy the moment right now.”